Men and Women like Minivans Equally and Women Are 2 Times More Likely to Purchase a Kia

Part two of a three-part study on vehicle preferences of men and women reveals some surprising differences and similarities when it comes to selecting a vehicle style and brand.

WOBURN, Mass. (January 24, 2014) –From books and movies to designs and more, men and women have often held different opinions for years. Today a new iSeeCars study looks at men and women and the preferences they have toward vehicle styles, brands, model years and price.

iSeeCars studied more than 30 million used cars listed for sale on iSeeCars.com and examined hundreds of thousands of requests of shoppers who contacted a seller about a specific car listing.

When it comes to vehicle types, women have a 67% stronger preference for crossovers than men, while men were four times more likely to purchase a luxury sports car versus women.

“While men and women have many differences in their vehicle preferences, they do share some similarities,” Phong Ly, CEO and co-founder of iSeeCars said. “For example, men and women equally prefer minivans and hatchbacks.”

Car Type/Body Style Preferences

Car Type

Degree of Preference

Crossover

Women 67% more likely than men

Wagon

Women 30% more likely than men

SUV

Women 9% more likely than men

Sedan

Women 21% more likely than men

Minivan

Men and women like this equally

Hatchback

Men and women like this equally

Luxury sports car

Men 4 times more likely than women

Pickup trucks

Men 3 times more likely than women

Sports car

Men 41% more likely than women

Convertible

Men 24% more likely than women

One could say the fact that men prefer luxury sports cars could be considered in the stat that men are four times more likely than women to buy a vehicle priced $45K and higher. Men are also two times more likely than women to purchase vehicles $30K-$45K

Car Price Preference

Price Range

Degree of Preference

Under $15K

Women 5% more likely than men

$45 and higher

Men 4 times more likely than women

$30K – 45K

Men 2 times more likely than women

$15K – 30K

Men 29% more likely than women

When it comes to brands men and women are likely to buy, they equally prefer Toyota, Dodge, Volvo, Jeep and Mitsubishi. However, men are 10 times more likely than women to purchase a Maserati and nearly five times more likely to buy a Porsche.

Car Brands Men Are More Likely to Choose Than Women

Car Brand

Degree of Preference

Maserati

10 times more likely

Porsche

4.6 times more likely

Hummer

2.8 times more likely

Jaguar

2.1 times more likely

Cadillac

2 times more likely

Women, on the other hand, are two times more likely to buy a Kia than men. Women also have a 67% higher preference for Hyundai than men.

Car Brands Women Are More Likely to Choose Than Men

Car Brand

Degree of Preference

Kia

2 times more likely

Hyundai

67% more likely

Saturn

63% more likely

Scion

58% more likely

Volkswagen

56% more likely

Men and women even differ when it comes to country preferences of vehicles. Men are 76% more likely than women to purchase a British car. And, women have a 20% stronger preference for Korean cars. Kia and Hyundai are both Korean automakers. It’s surprising German cars are preferred equally by both genders since they’re known for their performance.

Country Preference

Country

Degree of Preference

Korea

Women 20% more likely than men

Japan

Women 7% more likely than men

Germany

Men and women prefer this equally

America

Men 7% more likely than women

Britain

Men 76% more likely than women

Men tend to like recent model cars, and significantly older cars (classic cars) versus women. Men are 26% more likely to purchase a car with a model year of 1999 and older, and 13% more likely to buy a 2012-2014 model year versus women.

Model Year Preference

Model Year

Preference

1999 and older

Men 26% more likely than women

2012-2014

Men 13% more likely than women

2000-2011

Women 7% more likely than men

“All in all, the data signals women maybe more sensible in their preferences for cars that are reliable and affordable while men go for the flash like a Maserati even if it means shelling out a lot more money,” Ly said. This is part two of a three-part study on men and women and their vehicle preferences. Part one focused on car colors, with men preferring red and women preferring silver. Part three will highlight more technical preferences, such as fuel types and transmissions preferred by men vs. women.

Methodology:

iSeeCars.com analyzed more than 30 million used cars listed for sale on iSeeCars.com over the last year and studied hundreds of thousands of inquiries of consumers who contacted the seller about a specific car listing. The car types, features, car brands, prices, model years and other preferences are based on calculating and comparing the percentages of inquiries from men and women.

About iSeeCars.com:

iSeeCars.com is a car search engine that helps consumers find the best deal by providing key insights and analysis about each used car. The proprietary iSeeCars algorithm ranks cars by calculating an overall score based on analysis of the car’s condition, history, negotiability, price and the seller. Based in the Boston area, iSeeCars was founded by former TripAdvisor and SAP developers and executives who were frustrated with the used car shopping experience.